Concentrate Clare

I love making labels for quilts that are gifts and special occasions but I really must concentrate more when doing so...

A Finish

I have been working on a commission that is not my usual style or colours and have enjoyed the process but worried endlessly about the finished product. I mucked up the amount of fabric required and had to buy more-twice and then after consultation with the Sew And Sews had to change one of the fabrics completely. So not a good economic outcome but lovely quilt in the end. It was for 16 year old's boys birthday and needed to capture his UK, Scottish and Danish heritage plus his love of music and drawing and all in greys and blacks. I think I nailed the brief but I convinced the commissioner that red was required. I think I made the right call.

I have a plan

I have a plan to create myself a gorgeous

Sophie Digard style scarf this winter.

Using tapestry wool to give me the

 full  range of colours such as these....

by teaching myself how to read Japanese

crotchet patterns so I can make rosettes

such as these .....

and this is my work so far....

This time last year

Last April I wrote 14 blog entries as I was in London and New York and had lots to tell. This year the temptation is to say 'this time last year' which if I was thinking about today would be having a scrumptious dinner at Bob Bob Ricard before flying to New York.

Whereas tonight I have a parent teacher interview then home for sausages and mashed potato. But a lovely thing did happen today. Theresa from Sew and Sews and I have booked to go to Brisbane to see the Quilts from the Victoria and Albert exhibition in August. Very happy about that.

Does it look the same #2

This time it's a Bill Granger peach cake

Let Me Count The Ways

I love half square triangles. They are so versatile and fun to use but I have never made a whole quilt using them. As I was in need of a project over the summer I had a go using a lovely pile of green fat quarters gifted to me by lovely Sew and Sews member, Michelle. And with scraps of cream solid I started my triangles with no idea where I would end up. And what fun I had.... I discovered a lovely pattern and quickly completed a flimsy. I love it......

Why We Do What We Do- or how do I pay for this.....

There is a constant conversation between quilters as to what makes us quilt - why do we do it.  For me I love the mechanics of choosing fabrics and patterns and the satisfaction of seeing it come together. The final quilt is just the end point - but sometimes you can have too many 'end points' in the house. I have made enough over the last three years to fill my house with quilts for every purpose and I have given as many as I can for birthdays, babies and friends. The issue for me becomes how to make this a sustainable hobby that doesn't drain the family coffers - I am always being told - they are so lovely why don't you sell them..but it is not that simple. My experience on made it was disastrous and my market experience was not much better.  But the economic reality is that the cost of the material, batting and cotton for a good quality quilt with Adelaide bought fabrics runs into the $100s and adding the cost of time onto this makes my work too expensive for most people. I love making scrap quilts for friends and colleagues from the bits left over from other quilts and that is something I am always happy to do  for example every single piece of the quilt I made for Fee came from left overs from other quilts) But there are times when one longs to work with brand new fabrics, planned and considered as a whole. The answer to me is low cost commissioning.  Making quilts for people that covers the cost of the fabrics, cotton and batting giving me the chance to buy and sew with glorious materials and leaving lovely scraps to make other quilts as well. I know it is not an economic way to ' make money' but is a lovely way to make items that people want and fund my hobby. So I am up for the challenge. Here are a few of the quilts I have made for the cost of materials only and I am still so happy they are wanted and loved

..... anyone out there want a quilt?